USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 12
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In the appointments for this year we have : Batesville District, Andrew Hunter ; Batesville Station, A. R. Win- field. During this year an intimacy was formed between these two leaders in our Methodism that continued without interruption until death.
The statistics show a very healthy improvement in the
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condition of the Church during the year. The districts for this year were Little Rock, Batesville, Fayetteville, Wash- ington, Pine Bluff and Helena. There were 55 pastoral charges, 60 traveling preachers, and 10,485 white members and 1819 colored members. The total gain was 887 mem- bers.
CHAPTER XIII.
WM. MOORES -- R. H. CARTER-G. N. BOYD -- J. J. CROUCH -T. Q. C. HOUSE-MARCUS MANLY-JOHN REVILL- JOHN S. McCARVER-J. D. ANDREWS -- WM. B. MASON- JUBA EASTABROOK -- D. L. G. MCKENZIE -- JEROME B. ANNIS -- JORDAN BANKS-GEO. A. DANNELLY -- THOS. HUNT -A. L. P. GREEN-JOHN M. BRADLEY-A. B. WINFIELD -- H. O. PERRY-BENTON WILLIAMS.
The Conference for 1850 met at Fayetteville, October 23,. 1850, William Moores, President. The admissions on trial were Rollin H. Carter, Green N. Boyd, J. J. Crouch, T. Q. C. House, Marcus Manly, John Revill, John S. McCarver, James D. Andrews.
A review of the progress of the Church during the decade from 1840 to 1850 will show the most gratifying results. In 1840 the statistics show that there were 4228 white mem- bers and 725 colored members, 41 traveling preachers and 81 local preachers. In 1850 there were 11,299 white mem- bers, 1769 colored members, 67 traveling preachers and 166 local preachers; showing that the membership of the Church had been nearly trebled during the decade. In the meantime there had been a wonderful growth in the popula- tion of the State. In 1840 the population of the State was. 97,574. In 1850 it was 209,897. Comparing this with the growth of the Church, it will be seen that the Church had grown a little more rapidly than the State ; for if we repre- sent the growth of the population of the State by 2.1, the increase in the membership of the Church will be 2.6. In 1840 there were but 28 pastoral charges in the State; in 1850 there were 62 pastoral charges.
In 1840 there was but one town of sufficient size to sup-
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port a station; in 1850 there were five towns that had in- creased in membership so as to be raised to the position of stations. In the matter of finance the im- provement was much greater than in the increase in membership. In 1840 the total amount raised for mis- sions, Bible cause, Sunday-schools and the worn-out preachers, widows and orphans of deceased preachers, was only $304.30. In 1850 for the same purpose it was $1628. While this amount was far below what it ought to have been, it shows that there was some improvement. A Church is always in a healthy condition that is making some pro- gress along the lines of true church-work. If the tendency is upward, there is hope for the future, and while the pres- ent may be far below what it ought to be, and what we de- sire it to be, if it is moving in the right direction it inspires hope for the future. It is not so much where are we now, as in what direction are we moving. We may not be mov- ing as rapidly as we ought, but if we are moving in the right direction with an increasing velocity, the momentum that we gather will carry us onward to the highest degree of success to the Church. To compare our present position with what it ought to be, will produce humility and stimulate to re- newed effort to reach the demands of duty. To compare the present attainments with the past and find any real pro- gress, inspires hope and courage. The Church in Arkan- sas in 1850 was far below the standard of privilege and duty, but the progress of the past decade inspired the preachers and people with hope and caused them to devise larger plans of usefulness for the future.
The Church had passed through the trying ordeal of 1844, and had survived the shock and become more thor- oughly adjusted to its work than ever before. We have seen that for the years 1844 and 1845, that there was a decrease in the number of Church members in Arkansas. In 1844 the decrease was 965 whites, and 1845 the decrease was 336
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whites. This decrease was not caused by any withdrawal of membership from the Church, or by any lack of sympa- thy with the action of the Southern delegates in the organi- zation of the M. E. Church, South, but was the result of the intense feeling that existed, which for the time absorbed the attention of the Church, preventing direct aggressive work.
In 1846 there was a slight increase in numbers, and in 1847 there was a larger increase, and in 1848 a much larger increase. An examination of statistics will give an idea of the effect of the agitation upon the Church. In 1842 the increase was 1591. In 1843 it was 2113. In 1844 a decrease of 965. In 1845 a decrease of 336. In 1846 an increase of 15. In 1847 an increase of 624. In 1848 an increase of II47. Periods of great excitement are not favorable to suc- cessful Church work.
The sixteenth session of the Conference met at Camden, October 5, 1851, Bishop Capers presiding.
There was an unusually large class of admissions into the Conference at this session. Hugh A. Barnett, John D. Cole- man, Richard W. Hammett, Thomas B. Hillburn, James P. Hulse, William A. Maples, John Mosely, Robert H. Neely, John Rhyne, Elijah Smoot, David M. Webster.
Hugh A. Barnett was a faithful, good preacher, and did effective work as an itinerant until 1860, when he located. Coleman and Webster traveled two years and discontinued. Maples and Smoot traveled one year and discontinued.
John Rhyne has long been a faithful preacher, and we will have occasion to refer to his name again.
During the year the Conference lost by death two faith- ful and effective preachers-William B. Mason and Juba Eastabrook.
William B. Mason was born in Roberson County, North Carolina rch 24, 1808; was converted in 1833, and ad- mitted on trial in the Tennessee Conference in 1837, and transferred to the Arkansas Conference in 1839, and traveled
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in the order named -- Helena, Warren, Marion, Mount Ver- non and Harrison Circuits and the Red River African Mis- sion. He was regarded as a man of great purity, fidelity and zeal. He was a faithful and successful preacher of the gospel. A few hours before his death, he said to his wife : "I go home tonight. It was the night of December 13, 1850.
Juba Eastabrook was born in Vermont, and moved to. Ohio, where he was converted and began his ministry. He was transferred to the Arkansas Conference in 1838. His first circuit was Litchfield; then Batesville for two years ; Clarksville, Washington and Union Circuits, in the order named; then Pine Bluff District for four years; El Dorado Circuit, Van Buren and Fort Smith. While he was stationed at Fort Smith the town was visited with that fearful plague the cholera. As a faithful pastor he exerted himself to the utmost of his strength in visiting the sick and administering comfort to the dying, until his strength gave way before the inroads of the disease that was hurrying so many to the grave. His death occurred July 21, 1851. Among his last. utterances he said he was going home. He was an excel- lent pastor and good preacher, and greatly beloved by all who knew him.
The seventeenth session of the Conference met at Clarks- ville, in Johnson County, November 10, 1852, Bishop Paine presiding.
This was a session of more than usual interest on account of the large number of preachers who were received on trial and by transfer, who afterwards became prominent in the Church as preachers and pastors.
Duncan L. G. Mckenzie, Jesse W. Owen, Jordan Banks, Jacob W. Moore, Jerome B. Annis, Burton Williams, George A. Dannelly, Thomas Hunt, A. L. P. Green and John M. Bradley, were admitted on trial.
Joseph Turrentine, by transfer from the Tennessee Con-
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ference, and Alexander B. Winfield, W. H. Gillespie, Sanford W. Jones, H. O. Perry, W. H. Wood, R. R. Roberts and F. W. Thacker, from the Memphis Conference.
Of this number Burton Williams, George A. Dannelly, Joseph Turrentine, A. B. Winfield and A. L. P. Green are still living and in connection with the itinerant ministry.
Of the others, the greater part, after a number of years of great usefulness, have gone to their reward. Some located after a few years, and as far as we know were faithful in that relation to the Church.
Of those who are still living and in connection with the Conference, Burton Williams is a member of the Arkansas Conference, and enjoys the confidence of his brethren as a devoted, faithful preacher. George A. Dannelly is an hon- ored member of the White River Conference, and enjoys the love and confidence of his brethren in a very remakable degree, and is perhaps the most widely known and univer- sally respected of any preacher in the State. His great ability as a Masonic lecturer has brought him in contact with the people in every part of the State. A. B. Winfield is a member of the Little Rock Conference, and has for many years filled with great acceptability circuits, stations and districts to which he has been appointed. A. L. P. Green is . a member of one of the Texas Conferences, and has been faithful through all these years of service. Joseph Turren- tine is a superannuated member of the Little Rock Confer- ence, and in old age enjoys the love and confidence of his brethren.
Of the others who entered the Conference at the same time, proper mention will be made as we proceed with the . history of their labors in the Church.
We can form some better idea of the growth of the Church by remembering that in 1845 there were only five Presiding Elders' districts in the State, and in 1852 there were eight districts. In 1845 there were forty-one pastoral charges,
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while in 1852 there were sixty-seven pastoral charges. The total membership in 1845 was 7370, while in 1852 it was 13,093.
The names of the districts and pastoral charges indicate that the work was beginning to assume a more definite form than at any previous time in its history.
CHAPTER XIV.
TULIP RIDGE-BISHOP ANDREW-JESSE GRIFFIN-CASTING OUT DEVILS-JAMES E. CALDWELL-W. J. SCOTT-C. M. McGUIRE-WHIPPING THE BLACKSMITH-BISHOP EARLY -BISHOP KAVANAUGH-DIVISION OF THE CONFERENCE- BISHOP PIERCE - WINBOURNE-GADDIE-EPPES-CROU- ZON-TRAVIS-OWEN-JAMES E. COBB.
The Arkansas Conference for the year 1853 met at Tulip, in Dallas County, Bishop Andrew presiding.
The Town of Tulip was at that time the center of one of the most pleasant and prosperous communities in the State, and was noted throughout the State for its intelligence, re- finement and religious culture. It was for many years the home of a large number of prominent Methodist families- the Somervilles, Smiths, Taylors, Butlers, and a number of others of equal prominence (old Methodist families that have contributed so largely to the growth and prosperity of the State), lived at the place known as Tulip Ridge.
They were a fine type of Methodists ; the greater part of them had, at an earlier day, moved from Tennessee, where they had enjoyed the ministry of such men as Harris, Bos- well, McFarland, McFerrin, Blackwell, Brooks, Sullivan, McMahon and others of equal note. Trained under the leadership of such men they were prepared to perpetuate a vigorous type of Methodism in that part of the State. It was for many years the home of Dr. Andrew Hunter, Rev. James Caldwell, Rev. Jesse McAlister, Dr. Richard Colburn and others, all of whom contributed largely to the success of Methodism in the State. The Princeton Circuit, within the bounds of which Tulip was situated was one of the most
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prosperous charges in the Conference. The reported mem- bership for this year was 646 whites and 146 colored.
A few years before this there had been a most wonderful revival of religion on the circuit, under the leadership of Rev. A. R. Winfield, resulting in the conversion of several hundred souls. At the close of the year in which he trav- eled there was a reported net gain of 521 members. Some of the old people of the present day, who were living at that time, speak with glowing enthusiasm of the wonderful re- vival under the ministry of the gifted and popular young preacher.
At this session of the Conference there was an unusually large class of admissions into the Conference. The minutes read Richard H. Dodson, John H. Mathis, James Mackay, William H. Gillam, Jesse Griffin, B. C. Weir, William J. Scott, James E. Caldwell, John F. Carr, Richard F. Withers, Harlston R. Withers, H. N. Hawkins, David N. Bowles, James D. Adney and H. J. Newell. Of this number the larger part have either died, located or transferred to other Conferences. John S. Mathis transferred to the East Texas Conference in 1856; James Mackay transferred in 1875 ; Jesse Griffin located in 1859.
CASTING OUT DEVILS.
Jesse Griffin was regarded by those who knew him in his early days as a man of great courage and decision, and as a very acceptable preacher among the people. A number of rather amusing anecdotes have been told of his ministry among the people of that day. He is described as having been a very large, compactly built man, and of great phys- ical strength. Although he was known to be a very gentle and sweet-spirited man, yet when he was thoroughly aroused he was a terror to evil-doers. It is said of him that upon one occasion he was holding a meeting in a very rude and wicked neighborhood, where the roughs thought it looked
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bold and manly to disturb religious worship. A rough spec- imen of humanity, who was partly intoxicated, staggered up to the preacher and said he had heard that this was the place where they worked miracles. The preacher replied, "No, we cannot work miracles, but we sometimes cast out devils," and suiting the action to the word, seized the man and threw him out of the house.
These old preachers regarded it as a religious duty to de- fend themselves and their congregations from the assaults of wicked, irresponsible men.
Of the large number of preachers received at that Con- ference we have seen that the greater part have passed from the itinerant ranks.
James E. Caldwell is an honored member of the Little Rock Conference, and has by reason of affliction been on the superannuated list for several years. He is greatly be- loved by his brethren.
John F. Carr is on the effective list, and doing faithful service in the Little Rock Conference.
Harlston R. Withers is justly regarded as one of the ablest preachers in the State. For a number of years he was local, and engaged in the practice of law, and won con- siderable distinction as a lawyer. A few years ago, how- ever, he returned to the itinerancy, and although very feeble in health, has done most valuable service for the Master.
William J. Scott has been on the supernumerary list for many years-a pure, good man. Two of his sons are in the itinerant ministry, and doing faithful service for the Church.
The name of Cornelius McGuire appears for the first time in the minutes of the Tennessee Conference for 1835, when he was admitted on trial, in a class of twenty-three. He traveled in that Conference for eighteen years, and then transferred to the Arkansas Conference in 1853. An amus- ing incident is related of him, which illustrates the character of work that had to be done at that early day by many of
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our preachers, and the courageous type of preachers re- quired for that work. The incident I am about to relate has been published several times and located in several different places. It has also been attributed to two or three other preachers. Whether it occurred in Tennessee or Arkansas the writer is not informed. The version that I have was received from a most excellent brother, who had the inci- dent from McGuire himself. On one of the circuits traveled by him there lived a blacksmith who professed to be an infi- del, and being a man of great physical strength and courage nad threatened to whip every Methodist preacher that came that way. He had become such a terror to the preachers of that country that but few of them were willing to pass along the road upon which he lived. McGuire was appointed to the circuit within the bounds of which the blacksmith lived. He had heard of the threats of the blacksmith, and had learned about the place where he lived. Coming into the neighborhood he had to pass the blacksmith shop, and as he approached the place he was singing some old Methodist hymn, and the smith, supposing from his appearance that he must be the preacher, ran out and stopped him in the road, and told him that no preacher was ever permitted to pass that shop without receiving a whipping from him. McGuire remonstrated with the man, but it was all to no purpose. McGuire told him that as a man of peace he did not want to have any difficulty, but the smith was unyielding in his purpose to whip the preacher.
Finally McGuire dismounted, and the smith rushed upon him confident of an easy victory ; but to his utter surprise McGuire knocked him down at a single blow, and jumping upon him began to pound him severely. The smith begged for quarter, but McGuire told him he would not let him up until he promised to go with him to his appointment for preaching. The smith. refused to promise, and McGuire continued to beat him until he agreed to go. Then McGuire
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demanded of him that he would agree to seek religion ; he refused at first to make the promise, but McGuire continued his blows until he agreed that he would try to seek religion. The man made good his promise, and in a few weeks was happily converted and united with the Church. In after years, in his talks in class-meetings and love-feasts, he would frequently say that he had religion whipped into him. He remained a consistent Christian until death.
C. M. McGuire was transferred to the Northwest Texas Conference in 1870.
The General Conference for 1854, which met at Columbus, Ga., elected three additional Bishops, George Foster Pierce, of Georgia; John Early, of Virginia ; and Hubbard Hinde Kavanaugh, of Kentucky.
George Foster Pierce was universally regarded as one of the brightest lights in the American pulpit. He was born in Green County, Georgia, February 3, 1811 ; licensed to preach in 1830, and admitted on trial in the Georgia Con- ference. From that day until his death no man was ever more thoroughly identified with the history of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South.
John Early was born in Bedford County, Virginia, Janu- ary 1, 1786, and died in the City of Lynchburg, Virginia, November 5, 1873. His parents were Baptists, but he united with the Methodist Church. He was licensed to preach in 1806. He was a preacher of great power, and was noted as a man of great executive ability. As an illustration of his great power as a revival preacher, it is said of him : "On the Greenville Circuit he received 500 members into the Church, and at the ever memorable camp-meeting held at Prospect, in Prince Edward County, Virginia, it is said 1000 persons were converted." Such were the type of men who were elected at the same time with Bishop Kava- naugh.
In the plan of Episcopal visitation the Ouachita Confer-
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ence fell to Bishop Kavanaugh and at this first visit he greatly endeared himself to the preachers and people of the State, with whom he was always a great favorite.
Many interesting incidents have been told of Bishop Kav anaugh's power as an orator. Dr. Redford relates that upon one occasion the Rev. Mr. Dibrell, of Virginia, was sitting by him when the Bishop was preaching one of his grand sermons, and ever and anon, as the preacher ascended higher and higher he would touch him and ask, " Can he do that again ? "
The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which met at Columbus, Ga., in 1854, di- vided the Arkansas Conference into two Annual Conferences, by a line running east and west across the State. The Northern Conference retained the name of the old Confer- ence and was called the Arkansas Conference, while the Southern Conference was called the Ouachita Conference.
These Conferences were divided by a line commencing at the mouth of White River, and running thence up said river to the mouth of Des Arc Bayou, thence up said bayou to the mouth of Cypress Bayou, thence up said bayou to its head, thence down the Palarm Creek to the Ar- kansas River, thence up said river to the mouth of the Petit Jean, thence along the line between Yell and Perry Counties to the southwest corner of Perry, thence in a direct line to the southwest corner of Yell County, and thence due west to the western line of the State. During the year there was a very small increase in the membership of the Arkansas Conference and a large increase in the Ouachita Conference. Taking the entire State there was a very healthy growth of the Church, and it inspired the preachers with renewed zeal to cultivate the fields assigned them by their Conferences.
Doubtless the student of Arkansas Methodism would like to see something of the division of the Conferences at that
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early day. In the Arkansas Conference the districts were : Helena District, Stephen Carlisle, Presiding Elder ; Jack- sonport District, John M. Steel, Presiding Elder; Batesville District, John Cowle, Presiding Elder; Clarksville District Thomas Stanford, Presiding Elder ; Fayetteville District, Lewis P. Lively, Presiding Elders.
In the Ouachita Conference the districts were: Little Rock District, A. R. Winfield, Presiding Elder ; Washington District, T. E. Garrett, Presiding Elder; Camden District, William P. Ratcliffe, Presiding Elder ; Pine Bluff District, William Moores, Presiding Elder ; Monticello District, Wil- liam Morgan, Presiding Elder.
The Conference met in the City of Helena in 1854, Bishop Paine, President. The preceding year had been one of great prosperity. The admissions on trial at this Confer- ence were John B. Brown, Alfred M. Chadwick, Edward T. Jones, Wilson N. Pankey, Absalom H. Kennedy, and Hiram G. Carden. By transfer, Calvin H. Brooks, Isaac L. Hicks, and John C. Reed, from the Memphis Conference.
The Ouachita Conference for this year met at Washing- ton, Arkansas, Bishop Kavanaugh, presiding. William Winbourn, Enoch L. Gaddie, Littleton Johnson, David W. Eppes, and Elijah Crowson were admitted on trial.
The success that attended the Church during this year fully demonstrated the wisdom of the General Conference, in dividing the State into two Conferences, and clearly dem- onstrated the fact that the time had fully come when the work could be better accomplished by two than by one Annual Conference.
The Arkansas Conference for 1855 met at Fort Smith, and the Ouachita Conference met at El Dorado. Bishop Pierce presided at both of these Conferences
There was great anxiety upon the part of the preachers and people of Arkansas to hear this peerless pulpit orator, who was at this time in the zenith of his power as a preacher.
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To speak of Bishop Pierce as an orator, does not convey a full idea of him as a preacher. He was more than an orator -he was a wise teacher, he was a preacher of the gospel. He was one of the few men that combined in himself so many of the elements of a great preacher. He possessed a form of almost perfect symmetry, his every movement was graceful, and his voice was full, strong and musical. His every movement charmed the eye, and his voice delighted the ear, placing the hearer in perfect harmony with the speaker. His language was plain and simple in style, his most profound thoughts were clothed in language easily understood by the plainest hearers. It was not only as a preacher that Bishop Pierce excelled ; as a presiding officer, his accurate knowledge of Methodist polity and usages, and his insight into human character, peculiarly qualified him for the presidency of an Annual Conference.
There was a large increase in both the Conferences during the year. The net increase of members in the Arkansas Conference was 1223, and in the Ouachita Conference it was 904. There was one death in the Arkansas Conference during the year, the Rev. Travis Owen, who was born in New- berg, South Carolina, in 1790, professed religion and joined the Church in early life. He was admitted on trial in the South Carolina Conference in 1814. In 1828 he removed to Tennessee, and in 1843 he moved to Arkansas. In 1848, his health failing, he was granted a superannuated relation, which he sustained until his death, in 1855. He was known and recognized as a good man by all who knew him.
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